A photo of what appears to be human waste and toilet paper at the pavilion on Godstone Green has caused outcry among village residents, who have become increasingly frustrated at the authorities' apparent inability to safeguard their beloved green space.

For almost three weeks, an unauthorised traveller encampment has occupied part of the green with washing lines set up and caravans parked on one of the football pitches. At the same time rubbish has been dumped and is building up, and the combination is causing some residents to avoid using the green.

A photo was then posted on the Godstone Community Facebook page on Friday (June 1) which showed apparent excrement within the sheltered area of the pavilion, which is only a short distance from Godstone Village School.

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Residents appear to have had enough and are calling for firm action from police and the parish and district councils against those who are blighting the area.

Nick Waterton, a resident of Godstone for 13 years who took the photo, said on Monday (June 4): "After nearly three weeks of it now, the residents are just sick of it. [Travellers] normally stay for two days, there are not a lot of problems, there's a bit of litter left and then they move on, but not this time. It's gone totally overboard this year."

Godstone Parish Council is understood to have been trying to obtain a court order to move the travellers on however those efforts were ongoing as of Monday. The council is holding a meeting on Monday evening to discuss its next steps.

The 'human waste' found at the pavilion (Image: Nick Waterton)

A spokeswoman for the council said: "The bailiffs have been instructed to contact the travellers once the court order is obtained.

Mr Waterton claims the situation is exacerbated by the district council, the parish council and the police not working together effectively to move the travellers on. Surrey Police says it is the responsibility of the parish council, as the landowner, to deal with the incursion.

Mr Waterton said: "It's frustrating because the parish council are saying they aren't getting the support from the police they should be.

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"They all seem to be blaming each other. It seems like they are not interested in really getting rid of them. The travellers have no intention of moving until they're forced, so they are just going to stay."

Godstone Parish Council declined to comment on this.

A former governor at Godstone Village School, Mr Waterton has explained the effect the incursion and issues with waste have had on the children.

The traveller encampment on Godstone Green (Image: Grant Melton)

He said: "The whole half-term the children haven't been able to use the playground there or the green because of the travellers. There have been washing lines on the green and washing lines between goal posts.

"The faeces has been a real problem as well. The smell has been disgusting. There's a public toilet 200 metres away; instead people have decided to defecate 20 metres away from the school gate. It's disrespectful and disgusting."